From Reuters: A year after Russia defeated neighbour Georgia’s military bid to retake a pro-Moscow region from rebels, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday the war had redrawn the map of the Caucasus for good . . .

“Last year’s events have finally redrawn the political map of the Caucasus,” Medvedev told the 58th Army, which spearheaded Russia’s riposte, in the North Ossetian capital Vladikavkaz . . .

Western states condemned Russia’s counter-strike as “disproportionate” and the European Union and NATO froze talks with Russia, a major supplier of energy to Europe.

A year later, ties are back on and Medvedev said the conflict had not damaged relations.

“The peace enforcement operation (by Russian troops in South Ossetia) has not complicated our relations with the international community,” he said.